Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Student Debt Crisis
Student Debt Crisis
Rodrigo Ahumada
Tashina Clark
Michael Dennis
The amount of student loan debt taken on by students to attend college has steadily been
rising as the costs of attending schools have increased. According to the website Student Loan
Hero, the average class of 2016 student loan debt is $37,172 per student. This represents a 6%
increase from the year before. We believe that one of the biggest contributors to this increase is
the lack of financial experience and education among college students. This communications
campaign will provide first-time college students a resource of financial information that may be
Purpose / Objective
students. Many first time students lack financial education and experience, especially that needed
to properly evaluate financial decisions which have long lasting effects on the student's financial
situation long after college is over. This information will be aimed at the beginning student. We
want to educate students early on in the college experience before financial mistakes are made or
bad financial habits formed. We will use communication channels to educate the student about
financial resources and considerations that can be used to navigate college finances.
Learning Objectives
The learning objective of the student debt crisis is to become aware and educate future
To critically think of the challenges and options that may develop as the student
Audience
The target audience for this communication campaign is first-time college students with
little or no financial experience. It will be focused on students as they are considering options to
pay for college. Below are some of the financial statistics of this audience:
71% of students graduating from four-year colleges had student loan debt
(https://studentloanhero.com, 2012).
66% of graduates from public colleges had loans (https://studentloanhero.com,
2012).
88% of graduates who received Pell Grants had student loans in 2012, with an
2012).
Student loan delinquency rate of 11.2% (90+ days delinquent or in default)
(https://studentloanhero.com, 2012).
Average monthly student loan payment (for borrower aged 20 to 30 years):
$351(https://studentloanhero.com, 2012).
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Student Debt Crisis
Audience Analysis
The audience is a first year college student. For many first time students, College is the
first major long-term investment they will make. Students without outside financial support and
guidance are left to navigate the process of obtaining the necessary funding to attend college.
Students will turn to student loans as the funding source to pay for college and when they do it
isn't always clear what options are available. Most first time students have not fully connected
the college experience as an investment in their future potential earnings. Because this
connection has not formed, many will take student loans without a financial plan in place to
Messaging Goals
Think
We want first-time college students to actively think about all available option of
student loans. Students should be proactive with their financial decisions by becoming
aware of the struggles that they may face when dealing with student loan services.
Feel
Students should feel empowered after researching this topic. We want to prepare
first-time loan seekers to the point they are skillfully capable of choosing a loan that will
Do
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Student Debt Crisis
We want students to look into their options as soon as they know they will be
going to college. Basic research and implementation of the study skill techniques
Key Messages
The information we intend to provide is for students curious about continuing education.
The following key messages that this team wants the target audience to retain are:
Educate yourself on your options regarding choice of school/ tuition costs for
Major selected.
Create checklist/ reminders of key dates for admissions.
Take control and ask questions. Get the information that will help you select what
process.
Channels / Media
In selecting the channels for this communication campaign, this team has considered the
nature of the message, its purpose, the channels available to the target audience, and how the
audience consumes information. Based on these criteria, the team has selected the following
channels:
student of the teams key messages. It will provide some cited data for the audience to
consider. It will also make some recommendations on how to get the answers needed to
will be created for the student to reference when evaluating college financial options.
Tactical Planning
Using the right channels at the right time is vital in delivering the information about its
campaign efficiently and effectively to its audience. Below is how this team plans to meet the
required:
Conclusion
In order for an individual to make educated choices regarding continuing education, they
must begin with asking what is the right choice for them. Maintaining diligence to your specific
timeline and exploring the options available will build confidence and aid in the decision
making. Remaining inquisitive and adaptable keeps a student open to new possibilities at school,
References
U.S. Student Loan Debt Statistics for 2017. (2017, April 06). Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
https://studentloanhero.com/student-loan-debt-statistics/